Antiskid device



April 2, 1940. F. J. DALEY 2,195,983

ANTISKID DEVICE Filed July 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V I /NVENTOR 3 Frank J Da/eql April 1940- F. J. DALEY 2,195,983

ANTISKID DEVICE Filed July 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR FP'an/r J Daley Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

ment for vehicles, wherein the device is carried,

5 by the vehicle when the-device is not in use, so

that the vehicle wheel or the like can be run with the tread of the wheel in contact with the supporting road surface, and wherein the traction increasing device can be brought into operative relation to the wheel when its use is desirable.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved antiskid or traction-increasing arrangement for vehicles in which it can be rendered inefiective or effective, from the vehicle 15 and preferably from the operator's seat, as may be required when traversing clear or slippery roads, respectively.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved power transmitting device for con- 20 necting a driving wheel or similar element to a driven antiskid element or similar device.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the accompanying drawings and 25 the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be set forth in the claims appended to and forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile havin on the front wheel thereof, an antiskid device embodying my invention; Fig, 2 is a side elevational view of the inner side of a wheel provided with my antiskid device; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the disengaged position of the clutch shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of another clutch operating device shown in the position corresponding to the inoperative position ofthe antiskid device; Fig. 6

40 is a fragmentary side elevation of clutch operating mechanism, shown in Fig. 5, in the position corresponding to the operative position of the antiskid device; and Fig. 7 is a detail sectionalv view'of a pair of pivoted guide elements for securing the supporting arms to the supporting discs of the antiskid device.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown an automobile l0 provided with wheels ll having treads l2 on which are arranged antiskid devices which are retained so that the exposed tread of the wheel can run freely over the surface of the road IS with the antiskid devices latched in inoperative positions; although I have shown my improved device applied to the front wheel of a car, 55 it will be understood that the arrangement is equally applicable to the rear wheels of the vehicle.

The wheel ll includes a pneumatic tire havina the tread l2 which is mounted on a rim ll. Ihe rim II is rigidly supported by spokes it upon a 5 hub l6 secured by bolts l'l to a brake drum it which is rotatably mounted in the usual manner on a spindle or axle i9.

The antiskid device or traction incr arrangement includes a plurality of chains 22 10 arranged in circumferentially'spaced apart relation about the periphery of the wheel tread l2. These chains are normally retained out of contact with the tread so that the wheel can rotate freely with respect thereto, when the device is inoperative, and when it is operative, it is arranged so that the chains only come in contact with the tread when they contact the road surface as the wheel and device rotate togethen As shown in Fig. 2, the chains are spaced apart on opposite sides of the arc of contact between the wheel tread l2 and the surface of the road It so that there is no tendency to carry the chains 2. over the arc of contact by the rotation of the wheel. The chains 20 may be made in any suitable manner and may be imbedded in rubber or constructed of other suitable material which will give the desired increase in adhesion between the wheel and the surface of the road when desired.

. The chains or traction increasing elements 2| are mounted on flexible steel rods or arms 2| and 22 arranged about the outer and inner sides of the wheel. 1 These supporting arms 2i and 22 are pivotally secured together into pairs adjacent the outer ends thereof by a pair of links 23 and 24. at These links are pivotally secured together by a pivot pin 25 and are pivotally secured to the arms 2| and 22 by pivot pins 26. .This provides for a slight relative displacement between the ends of adjacent arms as these arms move with'res'pect to each other when the chains 20 contact the road or some obstruction.

In order to support rotatably the antiskid devi with respect to the wheel, supporting discs 21 and a 28 are arranged on the outer and inner side 0! the wheel, respectively. The outer disc 21 is secured to an auxiliary hub 29 by welding or the like, and this hub is rotatably supported with respect to the wheel by a set of ball-bearings 2. secured by a nut 3| and a lock nut 32 threadedly engaged at 33 with a supplementary hub secured to the wheel hub It by being welded thereto at 25. In order to reenforce the supplementary hub 34, it is supported intermediate the ends as thereof at I. on a conical supporting surface 81 formed on the end of axle II.

The inner supporting disc 2. is secured by welding to the edge of a cylinder 88 which is secured s to the outer race as of a set of roller bearings ll. This assembly of the disc 2|, cylinder SI, and race 39 is axially movable over the roller bearings 4|. In order to prevent the entrance of dust, dirt, or other foreign particles into the roller bearings, I havearrangedadustguardringli securedtoa radially extending disc 42 secured to thebrake drum l8 andtherim l4. Thedustguardring 4| extends axially about and closely adjacent the outer surface of the cylinder 38. The roller bearings lsaresupporteduponaringflarranged about the outer periphery of the brake drum is. A stationary disc 44 extends about the outer end of the roller bearings is to close substantially the spacebetweenthetworacesofthesebearings. A seconddiscorannularplate |lissecured.as,by welding,totheinnersurfaceofthecylinder88 inspacedapartrelationfromthe supportingdisc Ilinordertofurtherassistinsealingtheroller bearings. A plurality of openings 46 are formed I in the periphery of the cylinder 88 between the discs :0 and it in order to provide for the expulsionofsmallparticlesorliquidswhiohmayenter between the two discs Is and I.

The flexible supporting arms II and I! are piv- IO otally and slidably mounted upon the supporting discs 21 and as by guide elements. The inner portions of adjacent arms of adjacent pairs of supporting arms pivotally secured together at the outer ends thereof are slidably mounted in guide openings formed in a pair of guide elements pivotally secured together. The construction of these guide elements may be more readily understood by reference to Figs. 8 and "I. As is shown inthese ilgures,adiscl|formedwithaslot therein throu h which a flexible supporting arm 2| extends is rotatably supported with one face ll thereof adjacent a corresponding face ll of another disc II. The disc II is formed with a pped axially extending opening s: through the central portion thereof. Another disc I is formed with a shoulder 54 corresponding to the stepped openinglfinthediscll. Thediscltisarranged in rotatable engagement within the opening it. Inassemblingthesediscsthetwodiscsll andli are placed adjacent one another and the disc I! is arranged in the opening I! and is then welded throughthecentralportionthereoftothediso l1. Aslotteddisc llthenisrigidiysecuredtothe outer surface of the disc II. This provides a pair of guide elements pivotally secured together. Each of these pairs of guide elements are then rigidly secured to one of the supporting discs 21 or it in openings formed therein by nuts I threadedly engaging a huh I! formed on the outer surfaceoithediscll. Theinnerendsofthe supporting arms II and I! then are inserted into guide elements. End stops it are secured in notches it formed in the ends of the supporting arms and are clamped thereon by pins so extendingthroughtheendstherof. Astop ll alsois formed intermediate the ends of each of the supportingarmsinordertolimittheinward movement of these arms with respect to the guide yo elements. In order to maintain the supporting arms in their proper relative aligned position, I providearesilienttensionspringl! securedto the end stops adjacent the inner ends of the supportingarms andtoasprlngpin ll mounted on I5 the supporting discs at a point circumferentially spaced intermediate adjacent pairs of guide elements. In order further to insure the proper relative position of the supporting arms, I provide an equalizing yoke ll secured to one of guide elements. A resilient tension spring 06 is secured toeachoftheendsoftheyoke l4 and to aspring pin It adjacent to the respective end'of the yoke. Thepairofsprings llexsrtanequalinngorbalancing force upon the yoke ll, and the springs I! exert a biasing force upon the supporting arms tending to move them outwardly of the guide elegrooves I. of a plurality of V-grooved rollers 10.

These V-grooved rollers II are rotatably supportedbyspindles II onsupportingrods 1! arranged to support these rollers with the V-grooves thereof adjacent the inner periphery of the supporting disc II. A plurality of cylinders I8 are non-rotatably mounted on the stationary housing ll of the axle is. The number of these cylinders corresponds to the number of rollers. A slot II is formed longitudinally of each cylinder in the outer side thereof and a cartridge piston II is arranged within each cylinder II and provided with a projection or lug l'l thereon extending through the slot ll. Each of the roller supporting rods ll extends into the cylinders 18 and the piston ll, and ascrew ll threadedly engages the inner end oftherollersupportingrodandisslidablyseated inanopeningformedthroughthehead ofapiston l0. 'Therollersandsuportingrodsareresiliently biased outwardly of the pistons toward the supporting discs 28 by resilient compression springs ll retained between the inner surfaces oftheheadsofthepistons'llandwashersll secured to the supporting rods 12.

In order to engage and disengage the driving connection between the antiskid device and the wheel, the clutch It is adapted to be disengaged supporting arms II and II. In this position the clutch It drives the discs 11 is which rotate with the wheel II and provide an operating driving connection between the wheel and the antiskid chains. When it is desired to place the antiskid device in inoperative position, the clutch surfaceflisdisengagedfromtherim ll asshown in Fig. 4. In order thus to disengage the clutch, I provide aplurality of notches ll formed in circumferentially spaced apart relation in the inner periphery of the supporting disc II. The number of these notches corresponds to the number of pairs of supporting arms and are arranged with respect to the guide elements so that when the rollers II are biased outwardly into engagement with these notches. the chains normally will assume a position such that they will be out of contact with the supporting road surface It as shown in Fig. 2. In order to move the rollers into and out of engagement with the notches ll,

ill)

I provide cam s2, rotatably supported upon the 78 arouses axle bearing housing 18. This cam is arranged adjacent the slots 18 and the cylinders 18 and AS provided with curved cam grooves 88 arranged about the projections 11 of the piston 18. An operating rod 84 .s pivotally secured by a pivot pin 85 to the cam, and is adapted to be reciprocated by any operating mechanism from the drivers seat in the car. By rotating the cam 82 through the actuation of the rod 84, the projections 11 on the piston 18 are moved inwardly and outwardly from the axle i8, axially of the cylinders 13, thereby biasing the rollers 18 into and out of engagement with the notches 8| in the supporting disc 28. This effects engagement and disengagement of the clutch 88 for driving and arresting the traction increasing elements 28. If, at any time, the wheel encounters an obstruction which engages one of the lower chains 28 adjacent the road surface l8, when the rollers are in normally disengaged driving connection position, the chains and discs will merely turn so that the grooves will pass over the rollers 18 until the wheel has passed such obstruction, and then the rollers 18 will be resiliently biased back into engagement with the next succeeding notch 8| on the disc 28 and again latch the antiskid device in its inoperative position. Thus it is seen that I have provided an improved antiskid device which is readily operable from the driver's seat in a vehicle and which is releasable and may be automatically relatched if the wheel encounters an obstruction. Furthermore, I have provided an improved power transmitting device for transmitting power from the driving wheel to the driven antiskid elements.

In Figs. and 6, I have shown another arrangement for disengaging and engaging the driving connection between the clutch 88 and the wheel rim M for placing the antiskid device into operative and inoperative position. The antiskid dedescription, the inner supporting disc 28 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart notches 8| which correspond to thenum ber of pairs of antiskid chains 28. Theinner edge of the disc 28 is formed with a tapered surface corresponding to the inner tapered edge 88, that is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which is adapted to be engaged by correspondingly tapered surfaces of V-grooves formed in three spaced apart V- grooved rollers 18. These rollers 18 are rotatably supported by spindles 88 on bell-cranks 81. One of the arms of each of the bell-cranks 81 is pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof by a pivot pin 88 to a stationary supporting plate 88. The lower surface 88 of each of the pivotally connected arms of the bell-cranks 81 is formed as a cam and is adapted to cooperate with a cam element comprising a plate 8| rotatably supported about the axle housing 14. Threeother bellcranks 82 are pivotally secured by pivot pins 88 to the rotatable supporting cam plate 8| and are arranged to engage the cam surface 88 of the roller supporting bell-cranks 81. Each of the bellcranks 82 are formed with a cartridge arm 84, which forms a spring seat for a compression coil spring arranged partially within the cartridge arm 84 and bearing against a spring seat 88 secured to the cam supporting plate 8|. .This promove the rollers into and out of engagement with the adjacent inner surface of the supporting disc 28, an operating rod 88 is pivotally secured by a pivot pin 88 to the supporting plate, 8|, and is adapted to be reciprocated by any suitable operating mechanism from the driver's seat in the car. As shown in Fig. 5, the rollers 18 are resiliently biased into engagement with the notches ll of the supporting disc 28 by the bell-cranks 82, when these bell-cranks engage the cam surfaces 88 adjacent the roller supporting ends of. the bell-cranks 81. By rotating the cam supporting plate 8| through the actuation of the rod 84, the bell-cranks 82 will be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 6 into engagement with the cam surfaces 88 adjacent the pivoted ends of the bellcranks 81. Since these ends of the bell-cranks 81 are on opposite sides of pivot pins 88 from the rollers 18, this movement of the cam supporting plate 8| causes the bell-cranks 81 to pivot in a direction so as to disengage the rollers 18 from the notches 8|. thereby releasing the supporting disc 28. This affects the engagement of clutch 88, as has been explained with respect to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. Thus it is seen that I have provided another power transmitting device and a controlling arrangement therefor for transmitting power from a driving wheel to a driven antiskid device.

While I have illustrated and described particular embodiments of my invention, modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood therefore that my invention is not to be limited to the particular arrangements disclosed, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality of elements arranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, means including elements for supporting said traction increasing means rotatably with respect to said .wheel, a plurality of grooved rollers, a stationary supporting plate, means for rotatably supporting said rollersadjacent one of said supporting elements, means including a cam associated with each of said roller supporting -means for pivotally and resiliently biasing said rollers toward said one gagement of said cranks with said cams to move said rollers into and out of engagement with said supporting element for driving and arresting said traction increasing elements.

2. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality of elements arranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, means including supporting'clements extending about said wheel for carrying said traction increasing means rotatably with respect to said wheel, means axially movable of said wheel for providing a driving connection between said supporting means and said wheel, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported adjacent one of said supporting elements, a plurality of supporting element, a pivoted crank arranged to one of said supporting elements, and means arranged to move said slidable means axially thereof and to move said rollers into and out of en- I gagement with one of said supporting elements for engaging and disengaging said driving connection with said wheel for driving and arresting said traction increasing elements.

3. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality bf elements arranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, means including elements for supporting said traction increasing means rotatably with respect to said wheel. means for providing a driving connection between said wheel and said supporting means, a controlling device including a plurality of rollers adapted to cooperate with said supporting means for controlling engagement and disengagement of said driving connection, means for rotatably supporting said rollers adjacent one of said supporting elements, means including a cam associated with each of said roller supporting means for moving said rollers toward and away from said one supporting element. and means arranged to operate said cams to move said rollers into and out of engagement with said supporting element for engaging and disengaging said driving connection for driving and arresting said traction increasing elements.

4. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel including a plurality of elements adapted to be arranged about the wheel to increase the traction thereof, means for supporting said elements about the wheel, means axially movable of said wheel for providing a driving connection between said wheel and elements, a plurality of grooved rollers rotatably supported with grooves adjacent said axially movable means, a plurality of non-rotatable cylinders corresponding to said plurality of rollers, a piston slidably mounted in each of said cylinders for limited movement axially thereof, '.means for resiliently biasing said rollers outwardly of one of said pistons toward said axially movable means, means including a cam arranged to cooperate with said pistons for moving said pistons axially thereof in said cylinders, and means arranged to operate said cam to move said pistons axially thereof and to move said rollers into and out of engagement with said axially movable means for engaging and disengaging said driving connection.

5. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel including a plurality of elements adapted to be arranged about the wheel to increase the traction thereof, means for supporting said elements about the wheel, means rotatably and axially movable of said wheel secured to said elements for providing a driving connection therebetween, a plurality of grooved rollers, a stationary supporting plate, means for rotatably supporting said rollers adjacent said axially movable means, means including a cam associated with eachof said roller supporting means for pivotally biasing said rollers toward said axially movable means, a pivoted crank arranged to engage each of said cams, and means arranged to support said pivoted cranks adapted to vary the engagement of said cranks with said cams to move said rollers into and out of engagement with said axially movable means for engaging and disengaging said driving connection.

6. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality of elements arranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, means including elements for supporting said traction increasing means rotatably with respect to said wheel, means for providing a driving connection between said wheel and said supporting means, a controlling device including a plurality of rollers adapted to cooperate with said supporting means for controlling engagement and disengagement of said driving connection, a plurality of non-rotatable cylinders corresponding to said plurality of rollers, means slidably mounted for limited movement axially of said cylinders, and means arranged to operate said slidable means axiallythe traction thereof, a supporting disc arranged on each side of said wheel, means for rotatably supporting one of said discs with respect to said wheel on one side thereof, other means for rotatably supporting the other of said discs with respect to said wheel on the other side thereof, means including a clutch secured to said other oi said discs and axially movable of said other rotatably supporting means for providing a driving connection between said supporting discs and said wheel, means including a plurality of flexible supporting arms arranged on each side of said .wheel and secured to said traction increasing elements and to said clutch for resiliently biasing said clutch toward said wheel to provide a driving connection therewith, resilient means for biasing said supporting arms outwardly and for biasing said traction increasing elements out of engagement with said wheel, and an operating device ior engaging and disengaging said clutch with said wheel for driving and arresting said traction increasing elements.

8. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality of elements ar-- ranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, a supporting disc arranged on each side of said wheel, means for providing a driving connection between one of said supporting discs and said wheel, a plurality of supporting arms arranged on each side of said wheel and secured to said traction increasing elements, means including a pair of guide elements pivotally secured together and provided with guide openings therein for slidably mounting therein the inner portions of said supporting arms, means for pivotally securing said guide elements to said supporting discs, resilient means for biasing said supporting arms outwardly of said guide elements and for biasing said traction increasing elements out of engagement with said wheel tread, and means for engaging and disengaging said driving connection with said wheel for driving and arresting said traction increasing elements.

9. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality of elements arranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, a supporting disc arranged on each side of said wheel, means for rotatablysupporting said discswith respect to said wheel, means for providing a driving connection between one of said supporting discs and said wheel, a plurality of notches formed at circumferentially spaced apart points on the inner periphery of one of said supporting discs, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported adjacent said inner notched periphery of said supporting disc, means for resiliently biasing said rollers toward said notched periphery of said supporting disc, and means for moving said rollers into and out of engagement with said notches in said sup porting discs and for engaging and disengaging said driving connection with said wheel for driving and arresting said traction increasing elements.

10. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel including a plurality of elements adapted to be arranged about said wheel and adapted to increase the traction thereof, a supporting disc arranged on each side of said wheel, means for rotatably supporting one of said discs with respect to said wheel on one side thereof, other means for rotatably supporting the other of said discs with respect to said wheel on the other side thereof, means including a clutch secured to said other of said discs and axially movable of said other rotatably supporting means for providing a driving connection between said other of said supporting discs and said wheel, an operating device including a pluralityoi rollers, means for rotatably supporting said rollers adjacent one of said supporting discs, and means for moving said rollers axially of said wheel for engaging and disengaging said clutch withsaid wheel for driving and arresting said traction increasing elements.

I 11. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality of elements -adapted to be arranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, a supporting disc arranged on each side oi said wheel, a plurality of flexible supporting arms on each side of said wheel secured to said traction increasing elements, means including a pair of guide elements secured together and provided with guide openings therein for slidably mounting therein the inner portions of said supporting arms, means for pivotal]! securing said guide elements to said supporting discs at circumferentially spaced apart points, each of said pairs of guide elements on one of said supporting discs being secured thereto in a substantially axially aligned position with another of said pairs of guide elements on the other of said supporting discs, means including a resilient tension spring secured to each of said supporting arms and to said supporting discs for centering said supporting arms, and an operating device for driving and arresting said traction increasing elements.

12. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality of elements arranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, means including elements for supporting said traction increasin means rotatably with respect to said wheel, means for providing a driving connection between said wheel and said supporting means, and means including a plurality of rollers adapted to cooperate with said supporting means for controlling engagement and disengagement of said driving connection, said controlling means being releasable when said driving connection is disengaged upon said wheel encountering an obstruction for engaging said driving connection, said roller controlling means being arranged to disengage said driving connection when said wheel has passed such obstruction.

13. An antiskid device for a vehicle wheel having a tread including a plurality oi elements arranged about said tread and adapted to increase the traction of said wheel, means including elements for supporting said traction increasing means rotatably with respect to said wheel, means including a plurality of rollers adapted to cooperate with said supporting means for controlling engagement and disengagement of said driving connection, said controlling means being releasable when said driving connection is disengaged upon said wheel encountering an obstruction for engaging said driving connection, said roller controlling means being arranged to disengage said driving connection when said wheel has passed such obstruction, and cam means for actuating said roller control means.

FRANKLDALEY. 

